FIFTEEN rounds into the season, Drew Petrie may well be feeling a sense of deja-vu.

This year, just like the last, the 25-year-old was expecting to settle into centre half-back, help cover the defensive hole left by Glenn Archer's retirement and leave the goalkicking to his mates.

That was before Aaron Edwards was felled by a broken leg, before the forward set-up began struggling for consistency and before experienced goal scorers started getting dropped.

Just like last year — when full-forward Nathan Thompson suffered a season-ending knee injury — Petrie has been needed to be hauled out of defence to lend a helping hand in attack, and after Hamish McIntosh suffered a knee injury in round 12, in the ruck as well.

"That's the beauty of Drew," says assistant coach Darren Crocker. "Mentally, it's quite challenging for certain individuals to cope with a number of different roles, especially throughout a game, but Drew copes really well.

"Our forwards probably haven't held their form throughout the year (and) when scoring goals became a bit of an issue we had to throw him forward. With Hamish going down we've had to use him more in the ruck, but he just wants to help the team, play his role and have an impact wherever he possibly can.

"He brings a lot of players into the game and opens up opportunities (inside 50) for Lindsay Thomas, 'Matty' Campbell and Brent Harvey to score. He rarely gets out-marked and will bring the ball to ground and give them an opportunity on the deck."

Bags of seven and six goals in a row last year contributed to his 38 for the season and he finished third in the club's best and fairest behind the winner, Harvey, and skipper Adam Simpson.

In his ninth year at Arden Street, he's averaging a career-high 16 disposals and seven marks a game, and provides a strong overhead target in attack.

Petrie's uncle, former Essendon defender Ron Andrews, said his nephew was "well respected for the way he goes about his business" and thrives on new challenges.

The two share an uncompromising attack on the ball, while Andrews said Petrie displays a "level-headed" approach to life and the game that's made him a valuable member of the side.

"He seems to be plugging a few holes for them," he said. "Of course, you've got to be versatile these days and he's a handy man to have in your team … whatever position he plays he gives you 100%."

Andrews, who lives at Wentworth in NSW, has watched Petrie's progress closely since his Ballarat days and attends a couple of Kangaroos' games each year.

"It's a real feather in his cap that he can play around the ground and a bonus for the side, particularly with a few nasty injuries," he said.

Against Collingwood at Telstra Dome tonight, Petrie will need to be at his versatile, fearless best to keep the Roos' finals hopes alive.

"I'd be shattered if we don't make the finals," he told The Age this week. "We took a massive step forward last year and good sides consistently play finals footy."

Against the Magpies in round five, he shut down Anthony Rocca. While unlikely to remain a key defender tonight, Petrie said "you can't get a better scenario" than facing off against Collingwood for a spot in the eight.

"These are the battles you've got to look forward to … there's a lot riding on the game," he said. "There's a lot of sides from sixth to 10th all fighting for the last few spots in the eight, we're one of them and enjoying the opportunity."

Collingwood goes into tonight's game unchanged after beating Adelaide last week, while the Kangaroos have dropped Thompson and Blake Grima. Shannon Grant returns from a one-week club-imposed suspension and Corey Jones has also been recalled to the out-of-sorts forward line.

"It (the forward line) hasn't worked as well as it did last year," Petrie said. "Lindsay Thomas and Matty Campbell have been our two most consistent forwards all year and for guys in their second year of footy, it's a pretty good effort."